Orange is the New Black Season 6: What Will Happen To The Inmates Of Litchfield?

After an eventful 13 episodes, Orange is the New Black Season 5 ended with a cliffhanger that left fans desperate to know what happens next. While the sixth season is already confirmed, there is still a long wait – 12 months to be exact – before Netflix drops the next thirteen episodes online. In the meantime, here are a few theories about what might happen to Piper (Taylor Schilling) and the rest of her fellow inmates at Litchfield in Season 6.

Death To The Protagonists?

[Warning: Contains Spoilers From Season 5 Finale]

The newly-released fifth season ended with the SWAT team infiltrating Litchfield and clearing out the penitentiary. The captured were rounded and boarded two different buses presumably taking them in new prisons. A handful of protagonists including Piper, Alex (Laura Prepon), Nicky (Natasha Lyonne), Suzanne (Uzo Aduba), Taystee (Danielle Brooks), Cindy (Adrienne C. Moore), Flores (Laura Gomez) and Red (Kate Mulgrew) were left hiding inside Frieda’s (Dale Soules) makeshift bunker, awaiting for their fates.

As soon as the SWAT broke into their hiding spot, the credits rolled and fans were forced to wait until the next season to find out what happens next. Sadly, there is no way to know whether the protagonist will survive until the next season. There certainly is a real threat this time around: the SWAT team is aggressive and inexperienced that, when Officer Piscatella (Brad William Henke) was released from the bunker, he was immediately shot dead. The prison drama has shows that it is not afraid to kill its heroes.

Litchfield Shuts Down?

The riot also led to the departure of the inmates from Litchfield Penitentiary. The women were split into two groups and were made to board two different buses. Flaritza – Flaca (Jackie Cruz) and Maritza (Diane Guerrero) – were separated and were told to just write letters to each other, hinting that the story in Litchfield is over for now.

However, Bustle pointed out that riots do not necessarily shut prisons down. Even Attica, the biggest prison riot in the 20th Century and was referenced in the new season, did not shut down even after the 43 reported deaths.

Moreover, Litchfield went to a private-owned facility in Season 3 which means that it would be a financial burden for the penitentiary to shut down. While there is no one way that prisons respond to riots, it is very unlikely for the facility to shut down. Perhaps, the inmates will be back to their previous home after some renovations have been made.

Unless, of course, is the facility gets burned into the ground. Season 5 did leave the building on fire after Leanne (Emma Myles) and Angie (Julie Lake) burned their records down.

New Setting, New Characters?

There is, however, a benefit in leaving Litchfield. Bringing the main characters into different prisons might introduce new characters with all new backstories to explore.

Orange is the New Black followed the inmates outside of Litchfield in previous seasons. Nicky, for example, was transferred into maximum security for drug use. Sophia (Laverne Cox) was in solitary confinement for a while. Piper was even transferred to a prison in Chicago while awaiting her trial.

It is not the end of the story for the (former) inmates of Litchfield, but it would definitely be heartbreaking to see them in new environments and without their friends and family. Hopefully, the show can find a way to bring them back together in the end.

Netflix is yet to announce a release date for Orange is the New Black Season 6, but all 13 episodes of Season 5 is still streaming online.